Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Jaffna Kachcheri
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1800-1949
History
The Dutch governed the coastal areas of the Island by dividing them into three divisions. Jaffna was one division which included Mannar, Trincomalee and Wanni District. Jaffna was governed by Commanders assisted by a Political Council. In September 1796 the British occupied Jaffnapattam. John Jarris was appointed as first collector of Jaffnapattam from 3rd December 1796. In the Same year the Wanni formed into a separate collectorate. In 1798 Ceylon made a kings colony and the Hon. Fredrick North appointed as Governor. In 1801 North abolished the collectorate and appointed instead Agents of Revenue and Commerce to the different districts. Jaffna was given a special position in view of the standing Lt. Col. Barbut the collector who was appointed as commissioner extraordinary of the Northern District on 10th January 1798. The several korales of each collector district were administered through the restored Mudaliyars their authority being defined in order to circumstances the exercise of arbitrary power subordinate to Mudlaiyars were the usual headmen. The Korale Mudaliars reported to the Atapattu Mudaliyars who attended on the collector at his kachcheri.
In 1833, the whole island was divided into five provinces on the recommendations of the Colebrooke Commission. Northern Province was one of them. It consisted the district of Jaffna, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Wanni. A Government Agent was placed in Jaffna and the other districts were under Asst. Govt. Agents. From 1st October 1833, Percival Auckland Dyke was appointed as Government Agent, Fiscal and collector of customs of the Northern Province. Nuwara Kalaviya & Thamankaduwa were neglected due to the vastness of the province. This situation was rectified by creating the North Central Province on 6th September 1873 as Anuradhapura its capital.
With the grant of Independence in 1948 Ministerial system was erected over an administrative organisation, that had proved effective during colonial days. The ministry of Home Affairs which assumed an important role from the time of the Donoughmore system continued to function as the local centre of the new governmental structure. It was in charge of Provincial Administration which included kachcheries.
The establishment of District Ministers in 1978-1979 was a step in the process of debureaucratisation and decentralisation. This administration was concerned a significant change brought about by the District Ministry system was the appointment of Govt. Agent as secretaries of District Ministers. Thus G. A. of Jaffna was reappointed as secretary to the District Minister since 1978.
In 1833, the whole island was divided into five provinces on the recommendations of the Colebrooke Commission. Northern Province was one of them. It consisted the district of Jaffna, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Wanni. A Government Agent was placed in Jaffna and the other districts were under Asst. Govt. Agents. From 1st October 1833, Percival Auckland Dyke was appointed as Government Agent, Fiscal and collector of customs of the Northern Province. Nuwara Kalaviya & Thamankaduwa were neglected due to the vastness of the province. This situation was rectified by creating the North Central Province on 6th September 1873 as Anuradhapura its capital.
With the grant of Independence in 1948 Ministerial system was erected over an administrative organisation, that had proved effective during colonial days. The ministry of Home Affairs which assumed an important role from the time of the Donoughmore system continued to function as the local centre of the new governmental structure. It was in charge of Provincial Administration which included kachcheries.
The establishment of District Ministers in 1978-1979 was a step in the process of debureaucratisation and decentralisation. This administration was concerned a significant change brought about by the District Ministry system was the appointment of Govt. Agent as secretaries of District Ministers. Thus G. A. of Jaffna was reappointed as secretary to the District Minister since 1978.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Control area
Description identifier
LK-NA/KACH/JAF
Institution identifier
LK-NA
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAAR
Status
Final
Level of detail
Minimal
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin